The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is to embark on recertification of domestic airlines’ Air Operators Certificate (AOC) that have been issued before 1999.
Joyce Nkemakolam, acting director general of the NCAA who also said the new Aviation Policy has not threatened the autonomy of the agency, explained that for safety reasons, all AOCs issued about 14 years ago will need recertification.
“I also want to clear the air on the allusion that AOC takes a long time to be issued. I don’t agree with this. Our experience is that some intending operators will come and we tell them, ‘Please go and provide so and so.’ Some will go and will not come back in a long time and probably due to financial constraints.”
Nkemakolam explained that what was enshrined in the new policy has been in operation for sometimes adding that the agency remained a parastatal under the supervision of the aviation ministry.
He explained that grounding of airline can be avoided if operators adhered strictly to the regulatory requirements and rules guiding the airline operations without violations.
“If there is no violation or flouting of these regulations of course, there will be no sanction. We want to eradicate the culture of impunity which some operators have penchant of taking liberty of. This has got to stop.”
He said the agency was planning to invite all operators and resensitise them on adherence to regulations guiding their operations.
On private jets ownership, Nkemakolam explained that there were limitations and restrictions to the use of private jets for leisure adding that anybody flying with friends should be captured in their insurance policy.
“If you have a third party insurance policy you can fly with them. However, if you don’t, you are working outside the realm of your license. You must make sure that those you intend to carry are covered.”
On Aviation Revenue Automation Programme, he admitted that there was a high level of compliance adding that a meeting has been held between the NCAA and International Air Transport Association (IATA) on the process to collect the cargo taxes under the automation regime.
Article accredited to: Businessday
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